Hexcells

About

Hexcells is an ambient logic puzzle game similar to Minesweeper, set on a grid of hexagonal cells. Players uncover cells while following number clues to deduce which ones are filled with color or need to be eliminated. The game features a soothing soundtrack and gradually increasing difficulty across multiple levels, providing a relaxing and challenging experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,341 reviews

music235 positive mentions

replayability28 negative mentions

Engaging and fun puzzle game that combines elements of Minesweeper and Picross.
All puzzles can be solved logically without any guessing, providing a satisfying experience.
Relaxing music and minimalist design enhance the overall gameplay experience.

The game is quite short, typically taking only 2-3 hours to complete.
Some players may find the difficulty too easy, especially if they are experienced with similar puzzle games.
Lack of randomization and replayability may limit long-term enjoyment.

music
538 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
54%
2%
The music in the game is widely praised for its soothing and ambient qualities, enhancing the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. Many players appreciate how the sound effects are integrated with the music, creating a dynamic and interactive soundscape that responds to their actions. However, some users note that the music can become repetitive over time, and a few have expressed a desire for more volume control options. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant highlight, contributing to a relaxing and engaging puzzle-solving experience.
- “The music is very relaxing and it incorporates your clicks into the music in a very satisfying way.”
- “The soundtrack is fantastic, the visuals are effective, and there's some nice quality of life options.”
- “The music and sound effects are really satisfying, giving a lot of audible feedback when moving the mouse and selecting cells.”
- “The only complaint I can think of is that the ambient music can get quite annoying due to its repetition and lack of rhythm.”
- “In all honesty, the aspect I enjoyed the least was the music in Hexcells as it is repetitive and some parts sound like an orchestra of mobile phones with annoying, monotonous ringtones.”
- “The music can grow monotonous.”
gameplay
386 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
70%
1%
The gameplay of Hexcells is a refined take on the classic Minesweeper formula, introducing hexagonal grids and a variety of new mechanics that enhance logical deduction without the need for guessing. Players appreciate the gradual increase in complexity as new mechanics are introduced, making the puzzles engaging and challenging while maintaining a relaxing atmosphere with soothing music. Although the game is relatively short, lasting around 2-3 hours, it serves as an excellent introduction to the series, paving the way for more complex sequels.
- “The game is a sleek testament to how minimalist design can result in deeply engaging gameplay.”
- “The intuitive clicking mechanism makes gameplay a breeze, ensuring you can dive right into the puzzles without any hassle.”
- “The gameplay is pretty intuitive and the nice ambient music and sound effects add to the experience.”
- “The game is very short, and by the time you've finished all the levels teaching you the game mechanics, you're already only at world 5 of 6 and only have 7 more levels to go.”
- “The gameplay is somewhat easy to learn, but it stays easy for longer than I prefer, slowly introducing new mechanics throughout and then ending just as it gets interesting.”
- “While the core concept is similar to minesweeper, the added mechanics and the fact that you never have to guess to solve the puzzles makes it a far superior game to its inspiration.”
graphics
178 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
54%
2%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a minimalist and simplistic design that enhances the overall aesthetic appeal, creating a relaxing and immersive experience. Players appreciate the clean visuals and soothing soundtrack, which work harmoniously to complement the puzzle-solving gameplay. Overall, the graphics are described as visually appealing, functional, and well-suited for the game's calming nature.
- “The visuals, sounds, interface, and level design all do a great job of keeping your focus in a relaxing way.”
- “The art style is simplistic and geometric, and manages to be very visually appealing in doing so.”
- “The graphics and sound design are minimalist but aesthetically appealing.”
- “The graphics are bland in comparison to the original game, but still bearable.”
- “The visuals are extremely minimalist (hexagons, and only hexagons); the only visual effects you'll be seeing are the tiny animations for shading or breaking hexes.”
- “The game is primarily a puzzle game, so no high-end graphics or effects.”
replayability
107 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
59%
26%
Overall, the game exhibits low replayability due to its fixed set of puzzles, which can be completed in a short time frame of 1-4 hours. While some players may find enjoyment in attempting to achieve perfect scores on each level, the absence of procedurally generated content or a free play mode significantly limits the potential for repeated playthroughs. Many reviewers suggest that for those seeking greater replay value, alternatives like "Hexcells Infinite" would be more suitable.
- “The user-made levels are clever and it will increase the replay value drastically.”
- “Fortunately, the puzzles retain an incredible amount of replayability despite not being randomly generated.”
- “It's a short game at less than 2 hours to complete but definitely replayable and worth the $3 price tag.”
- “Unfortunately, the levels aren't procedurally generated, meaning the game has limited replay value and at only 2-3 hours long, it's a short game.”
- “Once you do a full completion (perfectionist achievement), there is not much replayability, but it is a very cheap game, and the first installment will give you at least 2-3 hours of play depending on how fast you are at solving.”
- “The only downside of these puzzles is that, because they're hand-made, they're not infinitely generated, but instead treated as 29 levels in 6 'worlds', giving this limited replayability.”
atmosphere
43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
74%
19%
7%
The atmosphere of Hexcells is widely praised for its serene and immersive qualities, enhanced by relaxing ambient music and sound effects that complement the puzzle-solving experience. Players appreciate the minimalist aesthetic and clean visuals, which contribute to a calming environment that encourages focus and enjoyment. Overall, the game's atmospheric design effectively creates a rewarding and engaging backdrop for its logic puzzles.
- “What makes Hexcells stand out is its ability to hook you with its serene atmosphere while simultaneously challenging your deductive skills.”
- “The minimalist aesthetic and droning, atmospheric music only add to the relaxing, approachable nature of the game.”
- “The game does have atmosphere, however, thanks to a soft, welcoming user interface with an ambient soundtrack and audio cues.”
- “- no real music to help to get a better atmosphere.”
- “The ambient tones are a treat, and the zen atmosphere the game manufactures is well done and marries well with the elegant visual polish.”
story
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
56%
36%
The reviews indicate that the game lacks a traditional narrative, with many users stating there is no story or plot to engage with. Some players appreciate the absence of a storyline, suggesting that the focus is purely on puzzle-solving rather than narrative development. Overall, the consensus is that the game does not require a story to be enjoyable.
- “I really loved the story, especially the twist.”
- “I am not usually a puzzle gamer, and I love story in my games, so I did not expect to get a lot out of Hexcells.”
- “There is no story.”
- “There's no story, no setting, and no gameplay save for puzzle-solving.”
- “There's no plot behind this game.”
emotional
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express that the game evokes a strong emotional response, combining feelings of accomplishment and joy with moments of frustration when puzzles become challenging. The unique mechanics and engaging gameplay create a sense of connection and satisfaction, making players feel both intelligent and supported by the game. Overall, it stands out as a puzzle game that not only entertains but also resonates on a deeper emotional level.
- “The game also made me feel like my brain was expanding.”
- “This is the first puzzle game I've ever played that made me feel like the universe loves me.”
- “But errors late in a puzzle are heartbreaking.”
grinding
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
70%
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game can be tedious, with players expressing frustration over repetitive puzzles and misclick penalties that lead to unnecessary retries. While some appreciate the gradual introduction of rules, the overall experience can feel monotonous, lacking the complexity and replayability found in similar titles.
- “It's a bit grindy, but the rewards make it worth it.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding, but the sense of achievement is incredible.”
- “The grind can be intense, but it adds depth to the gameplay.”
- “The mouse buttons are bound wrong by default, the music starts grinding your nerves after a while and I didn't feel like there was much to discover in terms of difficulty.”
- “As a final issue, I found myself getting extremely annoyed at being punished whenever I made a misclick, which happened extremely often and had me repeating some puzzles numerous times, which got pretty tedious even when I took a screenshot of my progress and just copied it.”
- “While it is very helpful that the rules are introduced gradually during the game and aren't thrown at one all at once, it is rather tedious clicking through all the levels if you laid the game aside for a longer period of time and have forgotten them.”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is consistently praised, with users highlighting its funny elements and comedic charm, particularly in the context of its puzzle-solving mechanics. While the game is described as entertaining and humorous, some players note that it is relatively short in duration. Overall, it combines humor with engaging logic puzzles to create an enjoyable experience.
- “A really funny game that keeps you entertained.”
- “It's a funny but short logic puzzle that brings a smile.”
- “This is a cheap and funny game that delivers great laughs.”
optimization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with a price-performance ratio of 2 out of 4, indicating some dissatisfaction with value. While the visuals are praised for their beauty and minimalist design, players have noted issues such as stuttering and washed-out menu text, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, the game is recommended for those seeking a relaxing puzzle experience.
- “The game looks beautiful - cool colors, minimalist layout - my only gripe is that the menu text looked a bit washed out on my screen. It took a while to be able to see the 'quit' text, for example. The music is excellent, accompanied by ambient chimes that play in tune with the music. If you wanted to, you could turn the solving of a level into a pretty pleasing musical performance with a little practice.”
- “The game looks beautiful - cool colors, minimalist layout - my only gripe is that the menu text looked a bit washed out on my screen. It took a while to be able to see the 'quit' text, for example.”
- “Recommended if you're looking for a round of chill puzzles and don't mind the stuttering.”
- “And your job performance is ranked based on how much money is in your wallet before/after.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features a clean monetization model with no ads, microtransactions, or bonuses, making it a refreshing choice compared to many mobile games. While some users question whether the €3 price tag is justified, the overall sentiment leans towards recommending it for its straightforward experience.
- “I am not exactly sure if I would declare the 3€ worth it, but since there are many mobile games that should deliver the same experience but are swarmed with advertisements, I would definitely recommend this one.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game demonstrates strong stability, running smoothly on both Linux and other platforms without noticeable slowdowns or graphical glitches. Players appreciate that any failures are attributed to their own gameplay rather than technical issues, indicating a well-optimized experience.
- “Also runs great on Linux natively :)”
- “Any game that makes you place the blame solidly on yourself for screwing up instead of on it for being buggy is a good one in my book.”
- “Both of my test machines (no slouches, admittedly) ran the game with no obvious slowdowns or graphical glitches.”